Free Web NovelChapter 1155: Chapter 1154: Visiting Chixiao Temple
Chixiao Temple, rear courtyard side hall.
Besides Lu Zheng and a few others, there were Ling Kunzi, the current Temple Master of Chixiao Temple, Master Jinghe, several elder masters who were close to Master Yun Ning, several stewards of the temple, and the top disciples of the current generation.
Master Jinghe was reading a letter written to him by Master Mingyu, while two elder masters held a small sword and a jade talisman, respectively.
In the center of the hall, an ebony coffin was placed; its lid was set aside, revealing the corpse of Master Yun Ning.
Lu Zheng had just finished detailing everything from the moment he encountered Master Yun Ning, to Master Yun Ning cutting off his heart vein himself, and asking him to return the jade talisman to Chixiao Temple.
"That’s how it happened," Lu Zheng said. "Of course, Elder Yuning was already fallen by then, so the truth of his words, I can’t be sure of."
One of the elder masters from Chixiao Temple, Master Changli, nodded, "Indeed, it was a Daoist of Guanglin Dao, Luoxia Temple, Pu Province. Back then, he and Yun Ning were close friends, but accidentally obtained a demonic artifact, fell into the Demon Dao, and was eventually killed by Yun Ning himself."
Master Jinghe put down the letter, glanced at Master Yun Ning lying quietly in the ebony coffin, then looked at the specially crafted coffin, nodding in thanks to Lu Zheng, "Little friend, you have been thoughtful, and we must thank you for stopping Elder Yuning and preventing further innocent bloodshed."
"True Man, you are too kind. It was my duty," Lu Zheng bowed in return.
As Master Jinghe expressed his gratitude, other elder masters, stewards in the temple, and disciples of the current generation all bowed in thanks, making Lu Zheng sigh in relief that there were no unexpected mishaps!
Si Lingxi’s identity, though only known to Ling Kunzi, became inevitable when entering this hall, with the presence of Ling Kunzi and the letter that Lu Zheng brought, ensuring this matter would not cause any ripples.
Lu Zheng prevented Master Yun Ning from continuing his evil acts, and the influence didn’t spread, preserving the reputation of Chixiao Temple, marking him as a benefactor of the temple.
The elder masters looked at Lu Zheng with satisfaction in their eyes.
Although he came with his several wives, clearly the matter was known not only to Master Mingyu but to his entire family, yet the affair originated from Master Yun Ning himself, and at the time it occurred just outside Lady Qingyi’s Renxin Hall, impossible to hide.
So they had nothing much to say.
Fortunately, they were all family. One was the Peach Blossom Fairy officially titled by the court, another was Lady Qingyi recognized by Emperor Jing, and though they didn’t know the third woman, seeing Liu Qingyan and Si Lingxi’s attitude towards her, she was evidently no ordinary individual.
Meanwhile, their only question was, how exactly did Lu Zheng kill the fallen Master Yun Ning?
To know, Lu Zheng explained the detailed sequence of events, but couldn’t possibly clarify every detail of the fight; if he did, it would turn into storytelling or novel writing.
Moreover... would he really detail how he took down Master Yun Ning? Lu Zheng wasn’t so lacking in perception.
Plus, arriving as guests, it was natural to act low-key, so Lu Zheng and his group restrained their aura, not showing off, except for Ling Kunzi, no one could discern the depth of Lu Zheng’s cultivation.
The elder masters’ gaze circled over Lu Zheng, filled with surprise and doubt.
Did White Cloud Temple grant him their treasured art? Did he join forces with his wives in the attack? Or had Master Yun Ning already been injured or experiencing an internal clash between regular and demonic qi, causing a drop in cultivation?
Or... could it be that the Yuan Generation disciple of White Cloud Temple was truly exceptionally talented, capable of defeating Master Yun Ning after merely twenty or thirty years of practice?
No no no, it shouldn’t be the last one; it seemed Master Yun Ning was still fundamentally devoted to the Dao, strongly suppressing his demon thoughts, aligning with Lu Zheng’s not inadequate cultivation, thus opting for dissolution at his hands.
Thus... it indeed benefited this junior...
Thinking this internally, regardless, it was Lu Zheng who stopped Master Yun Ning, and the elder masters were still reasonable, saddened by Master Yun Ning’s demonic death, yet not transferring any anger onto Lu Zheng.
Thus, they continued conversing gently, expressing their gratitude to Lu Zheng.
"We shall first use this side hall as Elder Yuning’s memorial, and tomorrow, perform a Dharma ritual before burying him in the rear mountain," Master Jinghe said.
"We respect the temple master’s directive," several steward Daoists bowed to accept the order together.
"Lu Xiaoyou, thank you all for traveling thousands of miles to deliver Elder Yuning’s remains, and for preparing such a coffin for him. Please stay in the temple today and join us tomorrow for the ceremony," Master Jinghe said.
"Certainly," Lu Zheng nodded, as was proper.
"Xiting."
"Disciple is present." A youthful-looking Daoist, but possessing substantial cultivation, stepped forward and bowed in response.
"Arrange a quiet courtyard for Lu Xiaoyou and his wives, then accompany them for a tour around the temple," Master Jinghe instructed, "They are honored guests of the temple, take care to attend to them."
After Master Jinghe issued instructions, he instinctively sought input from Ling Kunzi with a glance.
This was because Ling Kunzi had led Lu Zheng and his party to the temple, claiming boredom when sensing White Cloud Temple’s qi from Lu Zheng, hence stepped out to explore, just to learn of Elder Yuning’s affair.
Thus, for the accommodations of Lu Zheng and his party, although he found them appropriate, he still reflexively consulted Ling Kunzi with a glance.
Ling Kunzi had no objections either.
Si Lingxi’s relationship with Lu Zheng wasn’t secretive, but it was only not secretive within a small circle, no need to broadcast broadly, and to regular people, she was simply Lu Zheng’s wife, besides, Master Jinghe’s arrangements for Lu Zheng were perfectly suitable.
Therefore, Master Jinghe let Daoist Xiting lead Lu Zheng and his party away, then directed the stewards to organize manpower and prepare the memorial hall.
...
"Yuan Zheng Junior Brother, please!"
Daoist Xiting guided Lu Zheng and his party to the western annex courtyard of the Daoist Temple, a quiet courtyard, and asked Lu Zheng, "Does this place meet your liking?"
"Very well, thank you, Brother Xiting," Lu Zheng bowed and expressed gratitude.
This courtyard wasn’t large, with only one courtyard, the main entrance facing west, the east consisting of a living room and a bedroom, the north and south each had a wing room.
Yet even for such a remote and tranquil courtyard, the decor remained luxurious.
On the west side walls, there were two windows with cloud cranes carved in relief, beams and columns outside the rooms bore floral carvings, the window paper was snow-white, the door curtains were silk brocade, the glazed tiles reflected sunlight, shimmering against the eaves and corners.
No wonder it sat in Zhongjing as the leading sect of the Daoist Sect, it was truly wealthy!
As several entered the courtyard, Daoist Xiting gave Lu Zheng a brief introduction of the surrounding environment, then, seemingly unintentionally, asked, "It is said Junior Brother Yuan Zheng was with Senior Brother Yuanlin at this year’s White Cloud Temple’s New Year Dharma Assembly?"
Lu Zheng raised his brows in slight surprise, nodded with a smile, "The temple master favors me."
"Long admired the miraculous Innate Taiqing Rootless Cloud Qi Scripture of White Cloud Temple, regrettably never having the chance to witness," Daoist Xiting spoke eloquently, "Now is the perfect time as Junior Brother visits; since it’s still early, why not have a discourse?"
